Generally speaking it s best to hang heavy pictures on a wall stud.
How to hang heavy things on plaster walls.
Hanging things on plaster walls is easy if you have a drill and screws.
Simply hanging something heavy on a plaster wall can result in damage to the wall and the object if you don t tap into the supporting structure behind the plaster.
As mentioned earlier the wall stud is where the wooden lath attaches to the wooden frame behind the plaster.
How to hang heavy things on plaster walls using a wall stud.
Therefore it s the strongest part of the wall and the ideal place to hang pictures from.
All you need to do is pre drill a hole slightly narrower than your screws then use the drill to drive a screw into the hole.
For lighter items simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1 4 drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done.
Although plaster walls are thicker and denser than drywall they re also hollow so require heavy duty fasteners to secure weightier objects.
Screws and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail.
Plaster is more easily damaged than drywall so it s recommended to tap into the supporting studs where possible.